~ The "Wild About Animals Radio Show" is the REAL stock and bond market. Texas veterinarian Dr Bruce provides and promotes horse sense not nonsense when it comes to events, policies, products, procedures and opportunities affecting animals and the people who care for them. Co-host Emmi provides questions and commentary from the heart of a passionate and compassionate animal owner.

Kathleen Waldvogel, chronicler of California Chrome and the talent behind Forestbird Photography, joined me again on the Wild About Animals Radio Show on Tuesday, November 18 to share what a day in the life of a race horse is really like! I don’t even have the MP3 file from the station yet, but Kat gave me the OK to put on the website the special offer she’s extending to KAAM listeners. She has a classic collection of photos of the classic winning California Chrome compiled into a calendar available for purchase on her website, http://www.forestbirdphotos.com. Here’s the deal:

Select any photo in this portfolio, then click the “buy” button when the image appears on your screen. From there, select “2015 Calendar”, add it to your cart and you can check out or keep shopping.

The coupon code “KAAM”, when entered on the payment page, will give you 30% off your total order when you add any print to your calendar order. And every KAAM listener who buys a calendar will be entered into a drawing for the 8×10 print of their choice, matted and signed by Art and Alan Sherman and California Chrome.

The drawing, and the discount offer, will complete on December 1.

30% off your total purchase when you combine a Chrome Calendar with any other photo(s) in the Sherman Racing portfolio, AND everyone who purchases a calendar and enters the code KAAM on the payment page will be entered in a drawing to WIN an 8×10 print of YOUR choice!

DO IT NOW! The podcast of our conversation will be up ASAP. Thanks for stopping by!!

A show titled “Wild About Animals” would seem to suggest it has an emphasis and appeal to those possibly interested in animal health and stories of animals and since I’m a veterinarian maybe some of the odd stories of what goes on in the life of a veterinarian day-to-day, yet the show is under “Self Help” in iTunes (I think, still don’t have it all figured out). I classified the show under “Self Help” for several reasons, including that I believe there are a lot of life lessons learned from non-human animals, and the people I am around who really embrace the joy of their animals and the pride and joy in taking care of their animals generally flows over into other aspects of their lives. The irony of this episode is that I was REALLY interested and extremely excited to interview the lady who was chronicling California Chrome about California Chrome and sharing with you the care the horse receives, the character of the horse, and some of the ways he has impacted the lives of the people surrounding him. What you will hear in this interview is some indication of the Chrome character, but what ended up unfolding was an amazing example of the power of intention and visualization in the story of my guest, Kathleen Waldvogel.

Kathleen Waldvogel is an artist. Her work and services can be found at her website, http://www.forestbirdphotos.com, though her blog on California Chrome has moved to America’s Best Racing (www.americasbestracing.net). I find her story fascinating in that she has personally employed so many suggestions in the self-help world to create a place in the stable of a race horse and his story which has captured America this past year. First, after leaving the corporate world, she decided to do something SHE enjoyed, spending time with her horse, and her camera. Second, she got a coach. Third, she used the arrogant action of an old flame to set an intention, and then allowed things to fall into place. When the opportunity she desired presented itself, her intention became a reality because her heart was in the right place. While the intention was hers, and she had self-interest, the motivation of the intention had at its foundation the larger motivation of service to others.

The horse world can be portrayed and can in actuality be a world of aloofness and exclusion. Other industries, be they other facets of the entertainment world such as sports or stage, banking, law, real estate, I can think on and on about those groups of people who have seemed to be more EXclusive rather than INclusive. However, in every industry there are those who choose to be inviting and inclusive, and while they may or may not have the biggest house or the biggest bank roll or other material suggestions of success, they often have the biggest lives, and while not completely void of challenges and disruptions, there is a peace and joy and sense of personal satisfaction and self-worth which evolves from the advancement of others. As Zig Ziegler said, “You can have everything you want by helping enough people get what they want.” I think the story of Kathleen and Art Sherman and California Chrome provides an enlightening example of what can happen when intention is followed with action. Let me know what you think in the comment section.

By the way, I do intend to do a follow-up with Kat and share the character of Chrome and the team behind him in the next few weeks. As always, thanks for stopping by!

My long time friend Ashley Richardson of McKinney, TX joined me today for what I thought was to be the grand opening day of her DREAM, Castle Creek Pet Resort and Spa. Ashley comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has overcome HUGE hurdles put in place by local government to make her dream a reality, so another month delay is nothing to get this girl down! Her parents operate a very successful pipe and steel company and her brother races Nationwide Series cars and Ashley has developed her passion for dogs (AND she loves her dressage horses, too) into a very successful dog grooming business. Sassy Paws Pet Salon (www.sassypawspetsalon.com) is imaginative and innovative in its approach to meeting the grooming needs of the animal while adding the WILD SIDE of the groomer and owner team through creative clips and colorful “additions” to suit the personalities of both the dog and the owner. During our talk, she gives some great tips on frequency of grooming, whether to shear heavy coated dogs for summer, flea and tick control and heat stroke prevention, as well as talking about how and why she has turned her passion into a very successful business venture. Check out her website and schedule an appointment, and book your pet a stay at the Castle Creek Pet Resort and Spa in McKinney, TX once it opens in a few more weeks!

I follow Ashley on Facebook (you should too! Her pics of her grooming art always brighten my day!) and was very interested to see her post her displeasure with the sport of horse racing after the Kentucky Derby. I really appreciate her concern for the welfare of the horses, and recognize it is a common view shared by many, and a big reason for my doing the show and blog and podcast and all that this involves. Her displeasure arises from the perception that young horses are pushed beyond their limits for the purpose of making money for people, leading to the eventual breakdown and euthanasia of the horse. You can read my comments to her post on her FB page (i will figure out at some time how to link to it or post on the WAARS FB page!), but her concern generated several questions and views which, regardless of how you feel, I ask you to consider in forming your opinion and assessment of horse racing and animal sports in general.

Here is the question I ask in today’s show, ” In the unfortunate event of a horse suffering an irreparable lower leg fracture during a race, would you rather see the horse euthanized immediately, or would you rather see the horse transported, undergo an amputation and later be fitted with a prosthesis, allowing it an opportunity at life, though maybe not an entirely “normal” life?” Would it matter to you if the horse stood at stud (male) or entered a broodmare band (female) to reproduce and potentially generate revenue for the owner, and for the care of the horse? Oh, by the way, amputations and prosthetics for horses are successfully performed in some instances now, though the success rate is certainly not 100%.

I look forward to reading your comments and opinions. I will write a little more as feedback comes through, and remember, there is no right or wrong answer. We all have our own set of beliefs and I hope the discussion can lead all of us to a better understanding of each of us! Have a WILD week!! Thanks for stopping by!

I never will forget sitting in front of the old RCA in 1973 and watching the legendary Secretariat smoke the field by over 30 lengths at Belmont Park to become the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. There have been only two since, none since Affirmed in 1978. That performance sticks in my mind over forty years later, as an avid sports fan, as the most impressive athletic accomplishment and shear domination I believe I have ever seen. THAT is the athlete I chose to take care of by becoming a veterinarian.

Horse racing may be the most scrutinized sport in this country, and in fact, with exception of the Triple Crown series and the Breeder’s Cup events, little exposure is given the sport and its participants aside from issues involving abuses of horses, people, medication or the “system”. Today I was joined on the show by Dr Scott Palmer, newly appointed Equine Veterinary Medical Director for the New York State Gaming Commission. The past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioneers shared how his 38 years as an advocate for the welfare of the race horse and his involvement in organized veterinary medicine led him to this position, and we talked candidly about the role new diagnostics and technologies can play in allowing a horse to compete, at the top of his or her game, pain free and with a minimal amount of risk to horse or rider. The passion for excellence, the compassion for the equine athlete, and the desire for a thriving racing industry were all present as he discussed his vision for the future of racing. But it was the last two minutes of our talk I hope you listen to.

I asked Dr Palmer to share what keeps him awake at night and what keeps him excited about getting to work each morning. He said, ” I have not found worrying to be a very productive human endeavor, but I do keep a notepad by the bed to write down all the ideas that come to me to help make racing safer for horses”. Life lesson…STOP WORRYING, START DOING!! His answer to the second question literally made my spine tingle with pride and enthusiasm. You’ll have to listen to get the full effect, but when you can greet each day BELIEVING what you do will have a positive influence on the lives of hundreds of animals and millions of people, your nights are always too long, and your days way too short! There are opportunities in every corner of the horse world and the animal world as a whole to allow YOU to feel the passion, and join us in being Wild About Animals!

Enjoy the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Say a prayer for the safe journey for all involved, but fully take in all that the race embodies and represents, and know there are very, very good people working to make the most exciting two minutes in sports even greater, safer, and more exciting than ever!